The Goal of Bible Study?

I would like to hear from Logos users, "What is your goal for your personal Bible Study?" i.e. how do you know when you have reached the point of, "mission accomplished!" Also, what tools/resources do you most often use to help you reach your goals in Bible Study? Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

Rich DeRuiter

I would like to hear from Logos users, "What is your goal for your personal Bible Study?" i.e. how do you know when you have reached the point of, "mission accomplished!"

Only one goal really satisfies: an encounter with God Himself. The Bible is primarily God's self-revelation.

Along the way other goals are met also, such as knowing more about Him, having a greater understanding of who we are in relation to Him and each other, what it means to be a church, have a family, live this life, what we have to look forward to after life in the flesh, and much more.

But I don't think we're ever supposed to reach the point where we can say "mission accomplished." There is always more. Always. (In fact, sometimes I think someone is adding stuff to my Bible!)

Also, what tools/resources do you most often use to help you reach your goals in Bible Study? Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

Prayer. Reading the Bible itself. Exploring original language issues (if present). Consulting what others have said about the passage. More prayer. To be more specific would require a more specific question, as studying narrative differs greatly from studying poetic literature, epistles, apocalyptic, etc.

mab

Ideally, I'd love to be able to carry an original language Bible and just read from that, but I think there isn't a goal per se, just joy in the journey.

I've started an intensive reading plan described recently on The Gospel Coalition website. Having a better grasp of scripture in context and my mind saturated in God's Word is the upfront goal for the coming year.

MJ. Smith

I would like to hear from Logos users, "What is your goal for your personal Bible Study?" i.e. how do you know when you have reached the point of, "mission accomplished!" Also, what tools/resources do you most often use to help you reach your goals in Bible Study? Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

Personal Bible study is a tool, one tool of many, towards union with God. But it is also a tool for a number of other things - Scriptural knowledge, apologetics, fodder for theology, prayer, spiritual discipline, preparation for liturgy ... So my goal and means varies.

James Fowler

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/680457#Comment_680457

Well said! I agree we can't every reach a point of "Mission Accomplished" I guess I was thinking more in the lines of Sermon Preparation, when do you reach the point of successfully meeting your goal?

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/680498#Comment_680498

Jesus

Bruce Dunning

"What is your goal for your personal Bible Study?" i.e. how do you know when you have reached the point of, "mission accomplished!"

I believe that God's primary way of revealing Himself is through His Word. Personal Bible study is a way to get to deepen my relationship with God and help me make sense of life.

Also, what tools/resources do you most often use to help you reach your goals in Bible Study?

Logos Bible Software. [:D] I'm guessing that you assumed that but it is true for me. Seriously, I have found that one of the major dangers of Bible study is to get so caught up in the tools that I miss simply reading the Bible and listening to God speak to me through it. So, in addition to study, I have committed myself to read the Word systematically each day and simply ask God "What are you saying to me today?"

Dan Francis

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/680498#Comment_680498

Personal Bible study is a tool, one tool of many, towards union with God. But it is also a tool for a number of other things - Scriptural knowledge, apologetics, fodder for theology, prayer, spiritual discipline, preparation for liturgy ... So my goal and means varies.

[Y]

He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” --Luke 10:27

To paraphrase Hillel, the rest of the Bible is mere commentary on doing this. I agree fully with MJ wonderful reply and others thoughts as well. As we strive to be ambassadors of Christ to everyone we meet (although i fail at this more than most I think). Bible study is not only a joy for me but leads me to understand better how to love God and others.

-Dan

Rayner

I would like to hear from Logos users, "What is your goal for your personal Bible Study?" i.e. how do you know when you have reached the point of, "mission accomplished!"

I am not sure I've ever reached "mission accomplished", but if I do, I'll come and let people know. In terms of studying with Logos, I like to think that I've sufficiently wrestled with a text once I've read it over in a few versions, read a few commentaries about it and considered how it links in with the rest of the canon (particularly typologically) and how it speaks to the verses surrounding it, or they to it.

But, I also think there needs to be some element involving a transformed heart and thus a transformed life. If bible study only teaches /about/ Christ instead of teaching /into/ Christ, I think it can become academic and remote and fail to lead us into a more perfect contemplation of God and a more perfect love for neighbour.

Also, what tools/resources do you most often use to help you reach your goals in Bible Study? Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

Tonnes and tonnes of commentaries. And the "notes" section. And the highlighter. I've not yet really got to grips with all of the Logos functionality, as I feel I could watch YouTube videos all day, but would much rather get into the bible text!

Dan Francis

Also, what tools/resources do you most often use to help you reach your goals in Bible Study?

My apologies for not getting to this part of your question. For me my starting place is always the New Interpreter’s Bible (12 vols.). This set is a decent Critical commentary coupled with reflections by the same author offering applications and theological reflections. Looking through my spiritual journal I would say other series that seem to feed my soul (or at least offer snippets that I want to put into my journal) include: Westminster Bible Companion Series (33 vols.), New Testament for Everyone Series (18 vols.), Old Testament for Everyone Series (11 vols.), International Theological Commentary (27 vols.) The New Daily Study Bible: New Testament (DSB) (17 vols.) & Word Biblical Commentary (WBC) (59 vols.).

-Dan

Jack Hairston

Goal: What does the Bible really say? What does it really mean? How does it really apply to me?
It's a journey, not a destination.

Tools: Logos engine and commentaries, plus on-line commentaries like Rashi.

James Hiddle

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/680553#Comment_680553

Thanks for linking the NIB volume Dan. God Bless you always forever!

James

Erwin Stull, Sr.

I would like to hear from Logos users, "What is your goal for your personal Bible Study?" i.e. how do you know when you have reached the point of, "mission accomplished!" Also, what tools/resources do you most often use to help you reach your goals in Bible Study? Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

The goal: A better understanding of the Word. A closer walk with Jesus.

Mission accomplished: Will never be achieved here on earth.

Tools/Resources: Prayer, Logos (all available resources), personal communication with others (Pastors, teachers, theologians, etc.), small group Bible Study settings, the Internet.

Rich DeRuiter

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/680518#Comment_680518

Well said! I agree we can't every reach a point of "Mission Accomplished" I guess I was thinking more in the lines of Sermon Preparation, when do you reach the point of successfully meeting your goal?

Sermons are never finished, we just stop working on them. [;)]

I often say that I'm not done with sermon prep until I give the last 'amen' at the end.

Seriously.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/680580#Comment_680580

I'm on the same plane as Beloved (though he might not agree). I'm a big believer in being saved, as if I lived 5 minutes after Pentecost. All one needs is one piece of information. Done.

Veli Voipio

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/680583#Comment_680583

I agree with most of above, I just add that the Bible also studies me.

Currently I study almost daily with the Beale: "Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament", listening to Greek NT audio, one chapter a time. Greek and Hebrew discourse Bibles are used along, and right-clicking the Bible Word Study (BWS) tool.

The short-term goal is to understand the Messianic nature of the Bbile

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/680583#Comment_680583

It occurred to me that the goal of Bible study is essentially that which helps fulfill the Great Commission. Personal discipleship and helping to build other disciples.

It's fun being a Bible geek too, but we don't necessarily want everyone to think it's easy. [8-|]

James Fowler

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/680639#Comment_680639

Thank you so much for all of the great responses! It is always interesting to hear other Logos Users talk about their workflow and the tools and resources they use to achieve their goals (i.e. personal Bible Study, word studies, sermon prep, research, etc).